A Wycombe High School student has achieved national success after receiving recognition in one of the UK's most prestigious language competitions.

Emma Zadoroznyj, a Year 12 student at the school, was commended in both the French and Spanish categories of the Queen's College Oxford Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators 2026.

The annual competition, organised by the Queen's College Translation Exchange at the University of Oxford, attracted more than 35,000 entries from students across the UK.

Emma's double success places her among a select group of young linguists recognised for their translation skills, creativity and understanding of language.

Receiving a commendation in one language category is considered a significant achievement due to the scale and competitiveness of the contest.

Being recognised in two separate categories is an even rarer accomplishment and reflects a high level of proficiency in both French and Spanish.

Entries were assessed by professional literary translators alongside Modern Languages students from the University of Oxford.

Wycombe High School headteacher Nicola Renyard praised Emma's achievement.

She said: "We are absolutely delighted for Emma.

“To receive national recognition in both French and Spanish is an exceptional achievement and a testament to her talent, hard work and love of languages.

"We are incredibly proud of everything she has accomplished and hope her success inspires other students to embrace the opportunities that learning languages can offer."

Emma was presented with her certificates at the school by Mrs Renyard during a special presentation attended by members of the Modern Foreign Languages Department.

Among those celebrating her success were teachers Rafael De Souza and Annemarie Doran.

Mrs Doran said translation required far more than simply converting words from one language to another.

She added: "Emma's success is richly deserved. Translation requires not only an excellent understanding of language but also creativity, cultural awareness and attention to detail.

"To earn commendations in both French and Spanish in such a competitive national field is a fantastic accomplishment, and we are thrilled to see her efforts recognised."

The Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators was established to celebrate literary translation and encourage young people to engage with languages in new and creative ways.

Named after the acclaimed translator Anthea Bell, the competition challenges students to translate authentic texts from a variety of world languages, testing both their linguistic skills and their ability to convey meaning, style and nuance.

With more than 35,000 entries submitted from across the country, her commendations represent a notable achievement for both her and the High Wycombe school, demonstrating the talent of local students on a national stage.